Potential Subjunctive

The potential subjunctive is often used as a base-line translation of the Latin subjunctive. For instance, if a source provides basic translations when providing the conjugated forms, it is most likely that source will use the potential subjunctive translation for this purpose. The potential subjunctive expresses an action that is not real, but could possibly happen. In the picture to the right, the charioteer may be loosing control of his chariot. That phrase may be loosing expresses the possibility inherent in the image.

The potential subjunctive translation focuses on the use of the English helping verbs, may, would, should or could. In Latin, the potential subjunctive can appear in any of the four tenses. A potential subjunctive is made negative with non, but it would rarely be necessary, since the nature of the potential subjunctive indicates that something either could be or could not be.

What is the actual difference in the meaning between these two potential clauses?
- I may go.
- I may not go.

Tenses of the Potential Subjunctive

English is far less certain in defining the temporal essence of a potential statement: the helping verbs may and might are essentially interchangeable in modern English, while should, can, could and would also serve as successful translations for the potential subjunctive. Latin did utilize all four tenses of the subjunctive for the potential subjunctive. Present tense and perfect tense (rarely) tend to express an immediate future possibility, while imperfect expresses a past possibility and the pluperfect (rarely used instead of the imperfect) expresses that which might have happened.

Tense Summary

**Potential Subjunctives - Translation Examples**
Tense	Present	Perfect	Imperfect	Pluperfect
Latin Verb Example	eam	iverim (ierim)	irem	ivissem (iissem)
Possible Translations	I may go. I might go. I should go. I can go. I would go.	I might go. I should go. I could go.	I might have gone. I would have gone.	I might have gone. I should have gone. I could have gone.

You likely noticed that several of the translations overlap. Keep in mind that translations can never be perfect, as no two languages act in the exact same manner. Use context and your own judgement to determine which translation seems best when working with the Potential Subjunctive.

Translating the Potential Subjunctive in Context

The potential subjunctive is the only independent use of the subjunctive that uses all four tenses, even if perfect and pluperfect are rare. None of the other independent uses that we will be learning in this module can be created using the perfect tense. So, if you see a perfect tense subjunctive form being used independently, you can confidently translate it as a potential subjunctive. The potential subjunctive, when translated, always puts the helping verb after the subject: I may, I may have, etc. Let's look at some Latin examples and their translations.

Livia, "Vidistine Hermanes?" Tiberius, "In atrio eum invenias."
- Livia says, "Have you seen Hermanes?" Tiberius responds, "You may find him in the atrium."
  - Alternatives: You could find, You should find, You might find...
Non audeam de tantis rebus cogitare.
- I would not dare to think about such things.
Cursu incipiente, Circum Maximum exiremus.
- Even though the race was starting, we might have left the Circus Maximus.
Iuba prius inquireretur.
- Juba could have been investigated earlier.
Ob dolum cursum perdiderit.
- He might lose the race due to trickery.
Negatus essem te venire.
- I might have been told that you were not coming.